In the wake of the Newtown massacre of the innocents and the growing gun control debate, New
York City voters approve 75 - 18 percent of the job Police Commissioner Ray Kelly is doing, his
highest approval rating ever, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.

Voters also approve 70 - 23 percent of the job New York police are doing, the highest
score since a 76 - 18 percent approval rating February 7, 2002, in the wake of 9/11, by the
independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll.

Kelly's approval is 81 - 14 percent among white voters, 63 - 27 percent among black
voters and 76 - 18 percent among Hispanic voters. Approval for the police overall is 80 - 14
percent among white voters, 56 - 37 percent among black voters and 67 - 23 percent among
Hispanic voters. There is almost no gender gap in approval for Kelly or the police.

Voters disapprove of the police use of the stop-and-frisk tactic 50 - 46 percent.

New York City voters say 63 - 19 percent, including 53 - 31 percent among black voters,
that it would positively affect their decision to vote for a candidate for mayor if the candidate
promises to ask Kelly to stay as police commissioner.

"Perhaps because of the Newtown massacre or because of the recent announcement that
murder in the Big Apple is at an all-time low, or both, New York City voters like their top cop
and all their cops even more," said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling
Institute.

The economy is the most important problem in New York City, 26 percent of voters say,
with 18 percent listing education, 8 percent citing crime and 7 percent listing mass transit.

"Only 8 percent citing crime as the city's most important problem? There was a time
when crime was number one," Carroll said.

"As Mayor Mike enters his last year in City Hall, voters mark him with a solid 'B.' A
fair number say 'A' and very few give him low grades," Carroll said.
School Control

New York City's next mayor should share control of the public schools, 63 percent of
voters say, with 18 percent who want the mayor to keep control and 13 percent say the mayor
should give up all control. Parents of children in public schools share those opinions. In fact, no
group supports continuing mayoral control of the schools.

By a 53 - 35 percent margin, voter trust the teachers' union more than Bloomberg to
protect the interests of public school students.

"New Yorkers don't like Bloomberg's take-over of the schools. Most favor shared
control," Carroll said. "And never forget: it's a labor town. Despite all the outcry against the
teachers union, New Yorkers believe the union would do a better job protecting kids than
Bloomberg."

From January 8 - 14, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,332 New York City voters with a
margin of error of +/- 2.7 percentage points. Live interviewers call land lines and cell phones.

The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public
opinion surveys in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Ohio, Virginia
and the nation as a public service and for research.

For more information or RSS feed, visit http://www.quinnipiac.edu/polling.xml, call (203) 582-5201,
or follow us on Twitter.

17. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Michael Bloomberg is handling his job as Mayor?

30. As you may know, there is a police practice known as stop and frisk, where police stop and question a person they suspect of wrongdoing and, if necessary, search that person. Do you approve or disapprove of this police practice?

TREND: As you may know, there is a police practice known as stop and frisk, where police stop and question a person they suspect of wrongdoing and, if necessary, search that person. Do you approve or disapprove of this police practice?

33. When Michael Bloomberg leaves office, do you think that the next mayor should retain complete control of the public schools, should share control with an independent school board, or should give up all control of the public schools?

TREND: When Michael Bloomberg leaves office, do you think that the next mayor should retain complete control of the public schools, should share control with an independent school board, or should give up all control of the public schools?

34. If a home or business was destroyed by Hurricane Sandy, do you think: A) the owner should be prevented from ever building on that site again, as long as they are reimbursed, or B) the owner should be allowed to build with stricter building codes to protect the property against future storms, or C) the owner should be allowed to rebuild their property as it was before?

35. Do you think Mayor Bloomberg's involvement in national issues, such as immigration reform and gun control is good for the city because these issues ultimately benefit New Yorkers, or do you think this involvement distracts him from the day to day business of running the city?

TREND: Do you think Mayor Bloomberg's involvement in national issues, such as immigration reform and gun control is good for the city because these issues ultimately benefit New Yorkers or do you think this involvement distracts him from the day to day business of running the city?